Grizzlies 113, Clippers 102
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Zach Randolph returned to the Memphis lineup on Saturday night at FedExForum and posted a triple-double to lead the Grizzlies to a 113-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and stop a four-game losing streak.
Randolph, who had missed seven straight games with a sore knee, finished with a season-high 28 points, 11 rebounds and a season-best 10 assists. Tony Allen scored 22 points for Memphis.
With the Clippers (43-25) holding the fourth seed in the Western Conference and the Grizzlies (40-30) in the five slot, Saturday's game was potentially a preview of a first-round playoffs matchup. The teams have met twice in the first round of the playoffs, with the Clippers winning 4-3 in 2012 and the Grizzlies 4-2 in 2013.
The Grizzlies used a 12-0 run to take a 15-point lead at 85-70 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. The Clippers, however, closed with a 5-0 run -- all the points came at the free-throw line -- to make it an 85-75 Grizzlies lead going to the fourth quarter.
After Chris Paul (25 points and six assists) hit a jumper to complete an 8-0 spurt, the Clippers had drawn to within 91-88 with 6:57 to play. But the Grizzlies went on a 9-1 run that included seven straight points from guard Ray McCallum (14 points) and closed out the victory.
Memphis had 44-30 rebounding edge and shot 48.8 percent from the floor. The Clippers shot 47 percent from the field.
Center DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers and went 4 of 10 from the line. Paul Pierce scored 12 points off the bench and Austin Rivers had 10.
The Grizzlies also got 12 points from Lance Stephenson and JaMychal Green had 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Los Angeles' Jeff Green (eight points) left the game in the third quarter with a face laceration and did not return.
The score was tied 58-58 at the half and Randolph had 14 points.
NOTES: The NBA suspended Memphis F Matt Barnes without pay for Saturday's game vs. the Clippers for attempting to enter the Bucks' locker room in Milwaukee and "verbally challenging" Bucks F John Henson following the players' ejections during last Thursday's game. Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said he didn't learn of the suspension until a couple of hours before Saturday's game. ... Clippers coach Doc Rivers praised Joerger for what he's done with a multitude of injuries that has included losing C Marc Gasol for the season, PG Mike Conley (sore foot) and PF Zach Randolph (sore knee), plus several others. "Dave has done an amazing job when you look at their record, considering," Rivers said. "They still are surviving." ... The Grizzlies led the NBA in games lost to injury, at 233 as of March 18. ... The all-time series between the teams is tied 39-39.